Culturally varied experience... to say the least

To make a long story short I didn't hear from my contact about the volunteer opportunity that next day, and so on Friday I left for Sucre (only three hours, the governmental capital of Bolivia). Saturday I did my usual, wandered around without a map and get to know the city thing. It was fun! I went to an indigenous art museum that was part of a whole project to help reinitiate the art of weaving etc. in the countryside... it was one of the best done museums I've been to in South America (not that I've been to that many as museums aren't really my thing, but... they few I've visited haven't really lived up to expectations). I also enjoyed one of my favorite food markets so far - and by enjoyed, I mean ENJOYED - I had a delicious salteña (meat and vegetable filled pastry that Bolivia is known for), a cup of jell-o (all different colors with hand whipped cream), and a giant wonderful fruit salad... and that was all within half an hour! hahaha! I then found lemon and honey to try to make a tea to get rid of my cold... bought some fruit (that I ended up giving to some streetkids)... and managed to find a chocolate shop that had chocolate covered puffed rice and peanuts that were to die for! I also saw a whole bunch of churches, even happened upon a beautiful wedding with mariachis and everything, huffed and puffed my way up to a beautiful lookout, and oh yeah, saw all those important government and Bolivian independence buildings and stuff (they're celebrating 200 years of independence by the way).
I haven't mentioned this was probably the nicest hostel I've EVER stayed at... I'm convinced it used to be some very important rich person's mansion in the conlonial days. So anyway, I made some more pasta for dinner and then called it an early night, even though it was Saturday... BECAUSE the next morning was a big market in a village about an hour and a half away that I had read about and was one of my main purposes in visiting Sucre. So, when I awoke and got everything packed (about an hour later than I would have wished) I ran down to the kitchen to drink my tea (don't think it helped) and such for breakfast. Well, wouldn't you know it that I ran into a group eating breakfast, a Spanish couple from Barcelona, a French guy, and a guy from Switzerland... they were all headed to the same market. So, we ended up making friends, sharing the cab and spending the WHOLE day together. That was after we ran into my other three friends from Sweeden (yea, I got to see them again!!!) and two of their other friends from Germany. Whew! The village itself was great because MANY of the people still used their native dress and it was like a festival for the eyes...we all enjoyed the market... down to the local food (although I didn't end of buying anything... guess I was jaded by the AMAZING artesan market in Ecuador) and then headed back to the city (let's not mention the little girl sitting next to me puked on the bus ride back)!
I had mentioned to everyone this dance spectacular theater production thingy that I had picked up a brochure for and it just so happened to be 2x1 on Sundays... not everyone was interested, but a group of five of us decided to give it a try. So after the most entertaining mass I've ever been too... let me explain... one of the girls had read that they had contemporary music, like with drums and guitar at this mass and just couldn't believe that could be true, so we HAD to go... well they didn't really go in, but I did for the majority of the mass and I haven't smiled so much at a gringo-accented, tennis shoe wearing, hand clapping, rocking it out preist in my life! The music was good, the service was pleasant, and I left feeling happy... what more can you ask for?! So anyway, after that mass we headed to the theater/dance production. It started a little slow and there weren't a lot of people there, so I think the group was doubting me, but then it heated up and it was an absolutely amazing, energetic showcase of dances from all over Bolivia. We ended the show with one of the guys and I being picked by dancers to go up on stage and give one of the dances a try... hilarious! From there it was on to a pub where we met up with the German couple again. I just sat there thinking how crazily international our table was and how the guy from Switzerland was talking to the Germans in German, while the guy from France was talking across the table to the girl from Spain, while the guy from spain and I were talking in Spanish... wow, what an experience! We had some llama ham and cheese sandwiches and then headed to a Karaoke place. Now, if I thought speaking in all those languages was entertaining... just try Karaoke! hahaha! Even better when everyone trys to sing an English song like Bon Jovi's Livin on a Prayer! Absolutely side-splittingly hilarious!

Ok, so then I heard from the teacher in Potosí... it was gonna work out... I told him I'd be back the next day (Monday). So, another long story short... I arrived back here around 6:30 last night, met with Rolando around 7, met with the board of the institute around 8 and was introduced to the students around 9:30. I had my first class of intensive English at 10 o'clock this morning! Whew! I feel so good about it though. They are looking into an apartment for me (even though I'll just be here until the end of June... I'm hoping to find someone to replace me), they have talked about assisting me with food costs, and four of the teachers even came to my classes today! I don't have only miners, but a variety of students who didn't fit in at other institutes or schools and are now at this alternative institute studying technical skills to work in the area of tourism here in Potosí... which means guides for mine tours, or tour agencies, etc. We're basically attempting to start an intensive English program (taught by volunteers) from scratch with no materials... it's SO exciting! I'm hoping to learn more about this place, its history, and its present... so far I'm still at a hostal, but it's a good one, and I'm figuring out my way around (including the clothing market cause I had to buy thermals and a warm coat today.... it's COLD here at night)!

So that's the update for now.
Loving and miss you all. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers, as always.
Kate